In a growing season like we have had this past summer, asking for the rain to stop was a common request. Rain makes your crops grow, but too much makes them fail.
No one enjoys getting stuck, or driving around potholes dotted throughout your fields. Not only does excess moisture cause more wear and tear on your machines it also can greatly decrease the farmable acres within your fields. We cannot control our environmental factors but there are some ways we can mitigate the negative effects.
To better understand how we can reduce the negative effects, first we have to understand how your fields deal with the rainfall.
The initial step is to conduct an RTK accurate elevation survey of your field. Our Precision Ag department has the option to perform the elevation survey either from the sky with a drone or on-ground with our RTK equipped Gator. Once we have an elevation dataset we can then run a topographical analysis to learn more about how water interacts with your fields.
Contour maps will show the highs and lows and overall elevation change across the field. A depressional map will show where water collects, indicating where you are losing farmable acres. A flow route map will show where the water naturally flows, providing a visual of where you would typically see the water drain and collect after a rainfall. By understanding these maps, you can then visualize how water is affecting your field. Once you understand the maps, work with our Precision Ag team to make a plan. A small adjustment to a flow route can greatly affect the fields drainage and ultimately turn drowned potholes back into valuable crop.
Once you have a plan, ask us how to implement our water management solutions including Surface Water Pro or T3rra Cutta. These software solutions installed on your existing equipment can help execute your water management plan.
Give Chris Huolt, our Precision Ag Manager a call to learn more about our offerings or email him now to start your water management discussions.